Flooding

On reopening after the Christmas break we walked in to find the basement under water. All our equipment which had been stashed away for the Grotto was under water. The Belper News reporter arrived before the Fire Brigade! It took 3 hours to pump out the basement, Bingorama supported us again by bringing hot drinks over free of charge to all the people helping with the clean up operation. TVs, Computers and furniture were brought out soaking wet to be scrapped. The next morning Alan Benfield electrician came in and made the centre safe, we re opened the same night with half the space until the rest of the rooms could be mad safe.
We received £100 from the Police recovered property auction. Various items of furniture and equipment were donated after an appeal went out.

Santa's Grotto @ The Drop Inn /01

Once again we were asked to host Santa’s grotto for the town of Belper. A full story around this is to be released involving a 6’ tree and rock salt!!

Civic Impact Award

We were nominated and awarded the Belper Civic Impact Award for services to young people and the community of Belper.

1st Birthday

The Drop Inn hosted its 1st year birthday celebration, attended by council officials, members of the public, supporters and young people. Barrie Whittaker from Amber Valley Sports and Leisure presented us with a camera.

First Pool tournament against the Police

The Drop Inn held its first pool tournament against the local police helping to break down barriers. There was much cheating – that was just the police!! We lost 8 – 6. The police provided a shield which they had engraved – they were to keep it for the first year of winning.

Rotary donate £500

The Rotary showed support for the centre by making a donation of £500. This is a partnership which will grow over the future.

Derbyshire Building Society Donation

Derbyshire Building Society made a donation of £850 to pay the rent for a year.
The Drop Inn became a registered charity. We set up a board of Trustees and with the help of Amber Valley Borough Council wrote our Constitution,

Little Brother contest

We organised a Little Brother challenge, this consisted of 2 teams, a 12 hour lock in, with team challenges every 2 hours and a vote to evict a member of the opposing team as well as a member of their own team. Points were awarded on behaviour as well as completion of the tasks. The first person was chosen for eviction by both teams for eating all the biscuits. It proved very successful and all enjoyed it. The Mayor Randal Sanders presented a prize to the winner.

Santa's Grotto @ The Drop Inn

Belper Town Council asked us to host Santa’s Grotto for the town, some of the young people who were not in school transformed the centre into a grotto, Bingorama supported us with the loan of plastic elves and boards. Santa donated us 2 games consoles and games.

Volunteer Team gets bigger

Another friend of mine – Kieth – joined the team of volunteers.
We were invited to a conference at Count Hall, Matlock. The Mulberry Bush lent us their mini bus. The young people who attended were very proud to be representing this new centre and even took to the stage to have their say. It was a very proud moment for us all.